one set of you are in balmy 25+ degrees of water surrounded by boats, platforms and friendly traffic - possibly with babes in bikinis cruising by??,
This might be so near shore during nice balmy days but think about a Mid-January/February late afternoon flight in gusty winds with ten foot seas with breaking tops on the waves and you are heading for the rig and you are now about 150-200 miles offshore where the rigs are a bit scarce.
You are sat there in your plumbers uniform with the flag on the shoulder and a wonderful Swiftlik life jacket with no EPIRB.
The air Temp is 45F and the water temp is 54F....the wind is blowing 25 knots....ten foot seas....and Ms. Allison goes on a sit down strike.
What is the odds the helicopter is going to roll over?
What is the odds of everyone getting into the raft?
What is the odds on you getting picked up in the next 30 minutes?
Any one care to tell how many GOM pilots get rescued by the USCG Helicopter fleet?
Anyone care to describe the fleet capability of the USCG in the GOM?
What if.....as can happen sometimes in these things....you get hurt during the transition from aviator to flotsam?